As decided by the Management Team on 18 August, the students of all Xamk study programmes will return to contact teaching after the autumn break (from 1 November 2021). This means that from the beginning of November, contact teaching will be arranged in accordance with the curricula for students completing full-time or blended bachelor’s or master’s studies, as well as for open UAS students.
With its decision to switch back to wider contact teaching after the autumn break, Xamk wants to ensure that the vaccination coverage is at a sufficiently high level and that returning to campuses is as safe as possible. The transition time of several weeks also gives staff members enough time to prepare for the change and helps students make their daily living arrangements.
By increasing contact teaching, we want to keep our promise and offer three study tracks for our students: the scheduled track, independent track and blended track. In addition, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture has urged higher education institutions to provide more contact teaching as compared to last spring. This is also supported by the observations of THL, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, saying that there have been no serious coronavirus transmission chains at higher education institutions and that remote teaching is no longer an effective way to restrict the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Xamk continues to monitor the situation on a regular basis and, if recommended by the authorities, will change its instructions accordingly.
The safety instructions must be followed in all contact teaching situations by keeping a safe distance from others, maintaining good hand hygiene and wearing a mouth-nose mask.
Remote work
Xamk staff are recommended to work remotely until further notice. The Management Team will discuss possible changes to the remote work policies at its meeting on 25 August.
Arriving in Finland and practical training abroad
Xamk’s coronavirus instructions on travelling to Finland have been updated in accordance with the associated Government decision. The instructions apply to both students and staff members. Those arriving in Finland from low-risk countries will not be subjected to any special measures. However, persons arriving in Finland from a high-risk country will need to undergo health security measures imposed by THL. In this case, it is also recommend to use the FINENTRY application.
In addition, the Management Team introduced an update to the students’ practical training guidelines in terms of seafaring programmes. Supervised onboard training (organised by Xamk or the Apprentice Mill) can be completed on ships departing from Finnish ports and returning to Finnish ports without the requirement for vaccination protection, unless it is demanded by the shipping company.
It is also possible to participate in supervised onboard training (organised by Xamk or the Apprentice Mill) when the port of departure and return are in other EU or Schengen countries and travelling to them happens through this area. According to Xamk guidelines, travelling to these countries requires having taken two coronavirus vaccines. In addition, 14 days must have elapsed since the last vaccine, or proof of recovery from the coronavirus disease must be presented.
Onboard training – together with the associated travelling – completed under an employment contract is based on an agreement between the employee and the employer. In these cases, the Government instructions on travelling abroad should be followed.
All other practical training abroad remains cancelled.
Vaccinations
Xamk encourages everyone to take a coronavirus vaccine. At the walk-in vaccination sites, you can get your first dose of a vaccine or bring the second dose forward, even if you had already booked an appointment for it. Please see the region-specific instructions on the health authorities’ websites:
- Kymsote, Social and Health Services in Kymenlaakso
- Essote, the South Savo Social and Health Care Authority
- Sosteri, the East Savo Hospital District
As necessary, non-Finnish students studying long-term in Finland can also get vaccinated in public health care. An appointment can be made by contacting the local vaccination booking service by phone.
The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) does not participate in coronavirus vaccinations.
Additional information:
- Xamk’s coronavirus instructions
- If you have questions concerning the coronavirus, please send them to korona@xamk.fi Representatives from different units process the incoming emails between 8.00 and 18.00, Monday to Friday. Effort is made to reply to the messages within 24 hours.
- Students will receive information about the practical arrangements of the courses directly from the course teachers.